‘Ben Stokes made a mistake by not going for the new ball, they delayed it too much’ – Harbhajan Singh reflects on England’s 1st Ashes Test loss

Ben Stokes. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has opened up on where England went wrong in the opening Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham of the ongoing Ashes. The Pat Cummins-led Australia took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after outplaying the hosts by two wickets on Day 5 (June 20) of the first Test.

After the 80th over on the fifth day, Stokes allowed Joe Root to bowl one more over with the old ball rather than taking the new ball that was available. However, their efforts were rewarded when keeper-batter Alex Carey was dismissed with Australia’s score at 227/8.

Cummins and Nathan Lyon, on the other hand, led the charge for the visitors, capitalizing on England’s decision to stick with the old ball. After the 85th over, England took the opportunity to take the new ball, but both Aussie batters had already got their eyes in.

Harbhajan stated that Cummins deserved huge praise for his knock, reckoning that he played a captain’s innings coming down the order. The Australian captain hit an unbeaten 44 off 73 deliveries, while Lyon contributed with crucial 16* runs off 28 deliveries to help the team win. The former India off-spinner also felt that Stokes made a mistake on the final day by not going for the new ball as soon as it was available.

“Pat Cummins has to be praised for his knock, he played a captain’s innings coming down the order. Ben Stokes made a mistake by not going for the new ball, they delayed it too much,” Harbhajan was quoted as saying by Sportskeeda.

He went on to say that England believed they could easily remove Cummins and Lyon with the old ball, but they fell short in front of Australia’s counter-attack. Notably, the duo put up an unbeaten 55-run partnership for the ninth wicket.

“England thought they would get Cummins and Lyon with the old ball as well, but Australia stepped up with a counter-attack instead,” he added.

Now the pressure will be on England: Harbhajan

Harbhajan mentioned that Stokes should have taken the new ball after dismissing Carey. The 42-year-old remarked that the pressure is now on England, but based on their performance thus far, he believes they will make a stunning comeback in the series.

“You never know with the new ball, he should have taken it after Carey was dismissed. By the time it was taken, both Cummins and Lyon were settled. Now the pressure will be on England, but the way they have played so far, I think they will come back strongly,” the former cricketer concluded.